Abdominal bandage.



w. J. TEUFEL.

ABDOMINAL BANDAGE.

(Application filed Max. B, 1900.)

(No Model.)

Patente lune Z1900? :NITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE.

\VILHELM JULIUS TEUFEL, OF STUTTGART, GERMANY.

ABDOMINAL BANDAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,538, dated June 12, 1900.

Original application filed November 4, 1899, Serial No. 735,801. Divided and this application filed March 8, 1900 Serial No.

7,878. (No model) To Mt whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, WILHELM J ULIUs TEU- FEL, a citizen of the Empire of Germany, residing at Stuttgart, in the Empire of Germany, (whose post-office address is Neckarstrasse 51,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Abdominal Supporters, (this being a division of my application, Serial No. 735,801,;filed November 4, 1899;) and I do herebydeclare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a combined ab-' dominal and back supporting device. Its object is to provide such a device with means whereby it will be caused to fit the body properly and accurately and be retained in position with certainty and also afford a strong and effective support for the spine at all times and in all positions of adjustment.

With this purpose in view my invention consists, essentially, in an abdominal band .or belt provided at the portionin contact with the spine and back of the wearer with strong and inflexible stiffening-bars that are connected in such a manner that the distance between the bars remains unaltered for changes in the circumference of the girth, and which connections have a large range of movement in vertical and oblique directions to follow the various movements of the body. These bars are connected to the ends of the abdominal hands by means of any suitable or desired adjustable fastening device, such as a doubleacting lace-fastening, whereby a uniform enlargement and contraction of the abdominal band is permitted without in any manner a1- tering the position of the back-supportin g device.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which the reference-letters refer to the same parts in the several views, Figure 1 represents in perspective a supporter'embodying my invention in its preferred form. Fig. 2 shows in perspective the back-supporting de vice as viewed from the rear. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line so a; of Fig. 2.

From the drawings it will be observed that a supporter embodying my invention comprises an abdominal band A of the usual or I any preferred construction.

It is shown as of two sections detachably connected at the front by studs and eyes, though any other securing means may be adopted. This front supporting band or belt may be elastic,wholly or in part, or wholly inelastic in any desired manner.

The back-support consists of the rigid inflexible bars B and 0, preferably slightly curved, as shown. These bars are connected by rigid links F and G, preferably made out of metal. The links are connected with the bars bya pivotal attachment, such as screws or rivets.

The back-supporting bars may have slots D and E, as shown in the figures, that are curved in opposite directions. In such case the bolts or rivets H are arranged to slide loosely in the slots D and E. They may have their heads countersunk in the links and be secured from working out of the slots by having a washer on the free end and also an enlarged head.

Any desired means may be adopted for se curing the bars B and G to the band or belt. My preferred mode is to have eyelets in the bars and in the adjacent ends of the band,

through which pass laces. These ends may be adjusted independently, if desired, or there may be also eyelets in the adjacent parts of the two bars, and a single lacing-cord after connecting one of the bars, as O, to its adjacent part of the band by one-half of its length will pass over to the other bar B at the middle part of the back-support and then be laced between the bar B and the adjacent part of the band, after which the remaining portion of the lacing is returned to the middle part, and the two ends are there tied or otherwise fastened together. By thus having the two bars and the band portions secured together by a single lacing the knot may be untied and the cord lengthened or contracted, which will increase or diminish the distance between the ends of the band'and each bar by the one operation and by a single fastening device. The curved slots being of large radius, as shown, and the links being movable independently in the slots at each end, a very wide range of movement is possible.

For instance, when the bodyis bent sidewise one of the bars, as G, will be slightly elevated above the other one, the extremities of the links F and G sliding downwardly in the slot E to permit such movement, and at the same time the extremities of the links secured at the slot D will slide upwardly, yet the distance between the ends of the band will practically remain unaltered. Thus it will be observed that the bars B and C follow and conform to the movements of the back and afford constant support for the spine and parts in vicinity of the lumbar region in any position that the body may assume.

While the essential feature of my invention lies in the bars and links constituting the support for the back at its lower portion and their means of connection with the band, the support is especially useful in conjunction with the front abdominal bandage, as shown in the drawings, and is of paramount importance in cases of abnormal enlargement of the abdomen, whether from an accumulation of adipose tissue or in case of pregnancy; yet, if preferred, a simple belt, wide or narrow, may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, the function and operation of my back-supporting device remaining practically the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with the band, of the bars connected to the band at the back portion, and links connecting said bars and having their means of attachment with the bars movable transversely of the band, substantiallyasset forth.

2. In a device of the character described,

the combination with the band, of the slotted' bars at the back portion, and links connecting said bars by attaching means that are movable along the walls of the slots, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with the band, of the bars having curved slots, and connected to the band at the back portion, and links connect in g the bars by attaching means that are movable along the walls of the slots,substantially as set forth.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with the band, of the curved bars at the back portion of the band disposed with their convex sides in apposition, said bars having a curved slot concentric with its convex side, and links connecting said bars by attaching means that are movable along the walls of the slots, substantially as set forth.

5. In a device of the character described,

the combination with the band, of the slotted bars at the back portion, links connecting said bars, bolts projecting from the face of the-links at each end and movably engaging the walls of the slots, and securing means on the free extremities of said bolts, substan tially as set forth.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with the band, of the transversely-disposed bars at the back portion, and links connecting the bars by havingpivotal attachment therewith, substantially as set forth.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with the band, of the trans versely-disposed curved bars at the back portion of the band arranged with their curved sides in apposition, and links connecting said bars by having pivotal attaehmen t therewith, substantially as set forth.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with the band, and the transverse bars connected by the links having pivotal attachment therewith, of a single means for securing the bars to the adjacent ends of the bands, substantially as set forth.

9. In a device of the character (lGSCllbQdjh the combination with the band and the trans verse bars connected by the links having pivotal attachment therewith, of a single means for adjustably securing the bars to the adjacent ends of the bands, substantially as set forth.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with the band and the trans verse bars connected by the links having pivotal attachment therewith, of a means for securing the bars to the adjacent ends of the band that is adjustable to increase or to decrease, simultaneously, the distance between the bars and the adjacent ends of the band, substantially as set forth.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of the band,the transverselydisposed bars, and the links oonnecting'the bars, said bars and the band having eyelets in their adjacent portions, said bars also having eyelets in the portions in apposition, and a single lacing passing through said eyelets and connecting each bar with the adjacent portion of the band, and having its ends detachably secured together intermediate of the said bars, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILIIELM JULIUS TEUFEL.

Witnesses: A. DRAUTZ,

IIERMANN WAGNER.

IIO 

